Washing-machine-agitator mechanism



April 1, 1930. s. E'. scHRoEDER 1,752,757

WASHING MAGHNE AGITATOR MECHANISM Filed Dec. 24, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 xv." x,"

April 1, 1930.

S. E. SCHROEDVER WASHINGMACHINE GITATOR MECHANISM Filed Dec. 24, 1928 2 Sheets-sheet 2 NSG Iovkwml, l l l l l l I l .l llllll Patented Apr. Vl,4 41930 u--UfNlTl-:u STATES'v SIMON E. SCHROEDER,

F MINIER, ILLINOIS WASHING-MACHINE-AGITATOB HECHANISM Application led December 24,1928. Serial No. 323,216.

This invention relates to improvements in` washing machinel agitators and more particularly -to those positioned near the bottom. of a tub and driven by anoscillating shaftrising therefrom. j

Heretofore it has been found necessary to make' the agitator, or the portion of it covering the oscillating shaft, of a height sufficient to stand above the level of the water within the tub to prevent any leakage 'of water into the mechanism of that portion and also to prevent any oil orl grease working out ofy the shaft bearings and into ythe water where it would come in 'contact with the clothes to be washed. .Because of this condition, an agitator of such helght is cumbersome and unnecessarily occupies space within the tub that might otherwise be`used for water and clothes, thereby decreasing the capacity cfa iven size of'tub. The 'chie object' of this invention is to provide an agitator mechanism of such construction that it may lie completely below the surface of the liquidwithin the container, and yet will revent the liquid from leaking out of the tuv through any part of the agitator mechanism. i l l Another object of the -invention is to construct the mechanism of the a itator in such so a way that nooil or grease use in the mechanism can exudefrom any pointv into the liquidin the container.

A further object is to provide a novel liq,

uid-tight connection between the oscillating portion and thel stationary portion of the agitator mechanism, which connection is capa le of flexing lor twisting to accommodatek the oscillatory movements,... n

Other objects and advantages from the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: U Figure 1 is a plan lview'of a washing machineembodying the features of mymvention. f i

Fig. 2 is a fragmenta vertical section taken on the' line-2 2 ofig. if. o

Fig. v3-is averticaLsection of the machine taken on theline 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Vthe water` level shown in '24 is keyed.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section tak-onion the line 4-4 of Fig.`3.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, I have shown in the drawings and will herein 7 describe in detail the preferred embodiment, but ite-is tobe understood that I do not thereby intend to limit the invention to the specific formdisclosed, but intend to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

y Referring to kthe drawings, the exemplary embodiment of the 'invention comprises a base frame 10 on which is supported a tub or container having side Wallsv 11 and bottom 12. Within the containerand projecting from the bottom 12 is an agitator generally indicated by 13 and lyingrcompletely below ig. l

The exemplary means herein shown for drivin the agitator is constructed as follows elow .the container thereis mounted a motor 20 to the shaft of which a worm 21 ,is'rigidly connected. The worm meshes with a worm wheel 22 mounted on a vertical shaft 23. 'To the to of the shaft 23, a crank arm n the crank'farm 24 there is a crank 1n 25 to lwhich a bar 26 is pivoted. On the end) of the bar 26 oppositeto that pivoted on the crank pin 25, a rack `27 is cut. Abutting the bar 26 is a roller 28 suspended by a -crankpin 29 on a'crank arm 30, the latter being pivoted at 31. A spring 32 is attached to -bar-26and holds it ln-contact with the roller 28. To the upper end of crank pin 29 a .link 35 is attached. The opposite end` o f`- link 35 is attached to a crank pin 36 on a crank arm 37 the latter being keyed to the lower end of a vertical shaft 38. per end ofshaft 38 is a handle 39'..

On the 'up-= The rack 27 meshes with a pinion .42 fixed v i to the lower end of -a vertical shaft 43, the latter projecting np throu h the bottom 12 of 'ma s u moved out of mesh with pinion later-together with meegaat@ a is perliquid-tight connectionv is formed therebetween. he iiange 44 has an upwardly turned `annular collar 46-andpositioned within the collar 46 is a tubular sleeve 47, the latter su e s porting, at its end, bearings 48 and .49 for t e shaft 43. A: head 50 is rigidl attached to the upper end of 'shaft 43, sai headhaving a downwardly turned annular collar 51.

To prevent leaka e of liquid from the conmftainer, a liexible 'tu ular member 55 has one of its ends slipped over the collar 46 of the flange 44 and fixed thereto by a clam 56. The

upper end of member 55 is slippe over the collar 51 of the head 50and iixed thereto by a clamp 57. These clamps 56 and 57 may be 60 closed at its upper end. This portion 60' forms a driving connection with the head 50 by any wellfknown means, the particular means shown here being com lementary hexagonal portions formed on t e tubular portion 60 and the head 50. The tubular portion 60 extends downwardly externally of the member 55 to a vflange 61, the latter being seated upon the liange 44. Formed integrally with the tubular portion 60 andthe flange 614 are vanes 62. y. The operation of the' machine is as follows :A Assume the motor 20 to be running and the parts of the machine in the positions shown in the drawings. 'The worm 21, meshing with the worm-wheel 22, causes the latter to rotate.

The wheel 22 and the crank arm- 24 being' mountedo'n the shaft 23, the arm 244rotates with the wheel 22 and bar 26 connected to' crank pin 25 is reciprocated. With the roller 28 in the position shown, rack 27 is held in mesh with pinion 42, the latter being oscillated thereby as well as the shaft 43to which the inion 42 is keyed.

T e oscillation of the shaft 43 causes the agitator 13 to oscillate by means of the rigid attachment of the head on the shaft 43 and thedriving connection between the tubular portion and the head 50. Flange 44lbeing fixed to the bottom '-12does not oscillate while the head 50 does so. The' ilexible tubular 'member 55I bein fixed to these two parts, or

portions thereo is twisted by the oscillatory motion but at alltime's f orms a seal around 55 the shaftto prevent leakage.

i To stop the motion of he agitator 13 without shuttin off the `motor 20, handle 39 is turned in either direction causin a rotation of the shaft 38 and the cra arm 37. Through thelink 35, crank arm 30 is'then rotated and roller 28 moves away from the pinion 42. Spring 32 holding the' bar 26'in `contact with roller 28 causes rack 27 to be and they nection therebetween. f

tion therewith, said Aand havin a mitt'ed to come to a stop. Itis apparent that reverse movement of the handle 39 will throw the rack 27 back in mesh with pinion 42 and the a 'tator 13 will again oscillate.

It 1sv evidentl from the above description that I have provided an agitator that may lie completely below the surface of the liquid in the contamer without' any leakage through any part of the agitator mechanism, and 1n which a flexible iquidLtight connection is formed between the' oscillating portion'and the stationary portion of the agitator mechamsm.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a washing machine having anl agitating mechanism projecting from the bottom of the tub, the combination of stationary means mounted on the bottom of the tub, oscillating 'means projecting through said stationary means, an agitator mounted on said oscillating'means and driven thereby, and a flexible liquid-tight connection betweensaid stationary means and Asaid oscillating means.'l

2. In a washing machine having an agitat'4 ing mechanism projecting from'the bottom of the tub, the combination of stationary forming ing a driving connection therewith, and a' flexible tube connecting said stationary means and said head and forming a liquid-tight con- 3. 1n a washing machine having anagitating mechanism projecting from the bottom of the tub, the combination of an oscillating shaft-projecting through the bottom of the tub, a flange ri idly mounted on the bottom of the tub and ormin a watertight connecange havingt an upturned collar coaxial with said sha a head mounted on the top of said shaft and having' a downwardly extending collar coaxial wit said shaft, an a 'tator mounted on said head living connection therewith, and a ilexl le tube connecting the upturned 'collar of said Bange and the collar, of said head to form a liquid-tight connection therebetween. Y V

4. In a washing machine having an agitating mechanism projectingl from the bottom of the tub, the combination of an oscillating shaft extending upwardly through the bottom ofthe tub, a stationary flange mounted on the bottom of the tub to form a li uidtight connection therewith, `an u turn lar on said flange and coaxial wit said shaft,

a tubular sleeve rl'ldly mounted within said' flange and exten g alongthe shaft, two

-bearmgs mounted within the sleeve for supportin said shaft,a head mounted on the top of sai shaft f to oscillate therewith, a down- 'means mounted on the bottom of the tub and Y.

a liquid-tight .joint therewith, an oscillatmg shaft projecting'through the bot- 'tom of the tub and said stationary means and col- 'turned collar on `said headl and coaxial with `said shaft, 'a flexible tube surrounding the collar on the flangel and the collar on the head to form a liquid-tight connection therebe,v

tween, and an agitator having a central tubular portion closed at its upper end and enclosin said head and sleeve, the upper part of sai tubular portion enga-ging with said .head to form a driving connection therebetween, and the lower part of said agitator bein seatedu onsaid llange.

' -5. i an oso latingpagita'tor mechanism forv a washing machine in which the agitator projects from the bottom ofthe tub, the comination of oscillating means operable to os-v cillate the agitator, stationary means adapted to support sald oscillating means, and a ilexible liquid-tight connection between said oscillating means and said stationary means.

6. Inan oscillating agitator mechanism for a washing machine in which the agitator projects from the bottom of the tub, the combination of an oscillating shaft projecting into -the tub through the bottom thereof, a stationary flange rigid with the bottom of the tub and surrounding said shaft, means on the top of said shaft adapted to form a driving connection with the agitator, and a flexible tube connecting said'flange and said means vwhereby to form a liquid-tight connection therebetween;

7. In an oscillating a itator mechanism for a washing machine in w ich the agitator projects from the` bottom of the tub, the combination of a vertical oscillating shaft projecting through the bottom of the tub, a flange I surrounding the shaft at the point where it projects throu h the bottom of the tub and .rigidly Secured to the Shaft whereby said head may be oscillated by said shaft, said head adapted to form a driving connection with the agitator, and said flange, said tube andsaid head arranged to form a seal around.

the shaft to prevent leakage.

8. In an oscillating agitator mechanism for a washing machine in which the agitator projects from the bottom of the tub, the combinationy of a vertical oscillating shaft projecting through the bottom of the tub, a stationary iiange surrounding said shaft at the point where said shaft passes through the bottom of the tub, said flange havin a liquid-tight connection with the bottom o the tub, ahead at the -top of said shaft and rigidly connected thereto, said head bein constructed to form a driving connection with the ag tator, and a flexible tube the ends of whic are rigidly connected to the flange and the head respectively so lthat a liquid-tight housing'formed by saidV flange, 'said tube and said/ cap. surrounds said shaft to prevent leakage of liquid tween.

9. In an oscillating agitator mechanism for a washing machine in which the agitator rojects from the bottom of the tub, the comination of a vertical oscillating shaftprojecting through the bottom of the tub, a stationary flange secured to the bottom of the tuband forming a liquid-tight connection therewith, said flange having a central aperture through which said shaft projects and an upturned annular portion, a head mounted on top of said shaft and so shapedasr to form a driving connection withthe agitator, said head having a downturned annular portion, and a flexible tube the ends of which are snugly itted over the annular portions of said flange and said head respectively whereby to form a liquid-tight connection therebef 10. In an oscillatingl agitator mechanism for a washing machine in which the agitator projects from the bottom of the tub, the combination of an oscillating shaft projecting into the tub through the bottomv thereof, a centrally apertured flange irigidly secured from the tub through the agitator mecha.- l nism.

tothe bottom ofthe tub and surrounding said l shaft, said flange having a seating portion on which the agitator is rotatively supported and an, upwardly extending annular portion, a housing rigidly secured within the aperture of said flange and extending therefrom,

saidhousing supporting two bearingsfor said shaft, a head mounted on the top of said -shaft and rigidly secured thereto, said head lforming a driving connection with the agitator and having a downwardly extending annular portion surrounding said housing, and a flexible tube the ends of which are rigidly secured to the-annular portions of said .flange and said head respectively where- .by to f orm a liquid-tightv connection therebetween.

11. A. machine of the character described comprising, in combination, a container, an agitator therein, oscillatory driving means forsaid agitator, and a flexible sealing enclosure for said-drivingl means. 1

12.l A machine -of the character described comprising,'in combination, va container, an agitator therein, driving means for said agitator including an loscillatory shaft extending intosaid container, and aliexible` tubular sealing enclosure surrounding said shaft. y

13. A machine of the character described comprising,l inv combination, a container', an

agitator therein oscillatory driving means including a sha a stationary part through which said shaft projects, and a tubular sealing element surrounding said shaft and having its ends iixed to said driving means and to said stationary part, said sealing element being capable oftwisting to follow the oscillatory movement of said driving means.

14. A machine of the character described y comprising, in combination, a container, an

agitator therein, an oscillatory shaft, austationary part sealed to said container and 5 through which said shaft projects, a head on sa1d^shaft forming a .driving connection witls said agitator, and a tubular sealing element surrounding said shaft and having its ends sealed tc said head and said stationary art, said sealing element being capable of o ing twisted to llow the oscillatory movementof said head. v l

15. A'machine of the character described comprising, in combination, a container,v

agitating means therein, oscillatory driving means adapted to drive said agitatingmeans, and a iiexible sealing element having its endsy fixed to said container and to one of said means. f 16. A machine of the character described comprising, in comblnation, a4 container, 'a shaft projecting into said container, said shaft and container being arranged to have a relative oscillatory movement about the 4 25 axis of said shaft, and a iiexible tubular Asealing means having its ends fixed respectively to said container and said shaft, said sealing means being capable of twisting to follow said oscillatory movement.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto aixed my signature.

SIMON E. SCHROEDER.

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